My ELA Experience

With only three days left as an ELA in Valencia I thought I'd reflect on my time here doing this job.

It's no secret that this year hasn't been the year I thought it would be when I was back in university thinking about the ''best year of your life.'' When I was really struggling and wondering if I would be able to stick it out, my school was the only reason, along with my family, that I managed to get through.

All year on the Facebook group I've seen people complaining about how awful their school is and how they are not used enough or exploited in what they have to do. However my school has been the complete opposite as from the start my school gave me the opportunity to split the class in two, so I'd take one half one week and the other half the week after, or be with the teacher in all the classes. As I've previously mentioned in other posts, I opted for teaching the classes myself and I'm so glad I did. I didn't want to be stood at the back of a class being used only to correct grammar or pronunciation. The teachers told me what they wanted me to do every class except Halloween, Bonfire Night and Christmas where I got to do what I wanted and because of this, I've built a great relationship with my student. At first a few were obviously going to challenge the new girl, who wanted to teach them a language they didn't really understand and wasn't that much older than some of them, but any students who misbehaved went back to regular classes as one teacher had said it's a 'privilege' to have classes with me. Even the naughty classes transformed and listened to me which was something I was initially worried about. However, once we got to know each other we all got along great, especially some of the 'misunderstood' pupils such as one who I later found out that the teacher had basically written her off on the first day of 1st of ESO and always targeted her when she hadn't done her homework, even though half of the class hadn't done it either. But now she is one of my favourite pupils and she always does her work and takes part in my classes.

I love the fact they always have questions and stories which do sometimes go off on huge tangents and we always have a joke and a laugh. I also have seen huge improvements in their language abilities which makes me really proud and proves I think I did the right thing for my pupils as well as myself in teaching them. I think with me speaking only English, they have learnt a lot more, even if some still do write 'Inglish.'

I'm so grateful for the great school I've been placed in and it's a great feeling when I've finished a class that has gone great. I definitely will miss them but I'll remember the experience and pupils forever.

I do also have to give a shout out to one of the older students at my university who gave a YA presentation and completely put me off studying, other wise I would have gone along with my original plan and studied and I would have never met these people.